Leeds Abbey Dash 2017

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5th November 2017Matthew Rose reports

A beautiful autumnal morning was what greeted us on the morning of the 2017 Leeds Abbey Dash. A popular race for many, it didn't disappoint this year. Six of us travelled over together (thanks Jen for driving) arriving in Leeds for 8am.. many of the roads were already closed so we had to make alternative plans for parking.

The Gusibus contingent

We were at the start with plenty of time to spare; heading down to recce the start, it was great to bump into Aaron - he was very positive of his target of 32 minutes. Having nipped to the toilet, I'd lost the others.. a good guess to head into a packed out Starbuck's I found them; what a buzz there was in there.

A quick warmup followed before we headed to the start pens. With 10 minutes to spare, Jen, Dina, Damo and I were reunited.. the pen started to move forwards when we realised our pen had already left - we stepped aside and headed out of our pen towards the start. The race had already started as we approached the startline so it was straight into the race.. quite congested and requiring a bit of ducking and diving to advance - we were off.

We were all running with our own motives and different stages in our training - for me after a varied year, running marathons, building up to my 5.25 mile swim and cycling sportives I'd lost what running speed I had. Recent parkruns have proved difficult so I was cautious not to go out too hard. Damo had shot off and I was pleased with my first mile split of 7:02. There were no other Harriers in sight but I was surrounded by some capable club runners - comfortable in my pace, as we worked our way round the shopping mall loop I failed to spot the speed hump and fell hopelessly, splaying myself onto the road - Ouch! I got up supported by the nearby runners and continued to work my way back up to my previous position. Steve Beardsell marked the course at 2.5K - as always offering support and encouragement to the Harriers.

It's a gentle rise to the halfway point and I felt OK. As it's an out and back course I'd managed to spot Aaron going well near the front of the pack and soon after Alex Robinson; as I progressed towards 5K I passed Damo putting in a shift on the return leg. A quick swig at the water station at 5K(22:50) and we were rewarded with a bit of downhill, a good couple of flat miles and then a gentle rise up onto the Headrow for a sprint to the finish in front of Town Hall. I'd run the second half comfortably (picking off Halifax Harriers) and finished in 45:00 (SB). Not my fastest 10K and slower than last year (43:14 - and my PB on this course 42:30), but like others, I finished happy and with confidence there was more to come!

We reunited at the finish and bumped into Sophie and Louis Cromwell who'd both had great runs - Sophie gaining a 10K PB the day after competing in the National XC Relays :)

Now looking forward to the Doncaster 10K in three weeks - let's see what comes of that!

The race winner was Sam Stabler (Wreake & Soar Valley) with a finish time of 29:13. Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill) retained her title from 2016 clocking 32:05 and setting a new course record; Emma Mitchell (Belfast AC) broke the Northern Irish 10K record to finish second in 32:51.

Well done all who competed and represented the club and to our supporters, the Kettlewell's, Steve Beardsell, Ruby and anyone out there I didn't spot. Also a special mention to Dinah who stopped to pick another runner up compromising her own race performance!

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With a membership of over 550, Holmfirth Harriers is one of the largest athletics clubs in Yorkshire. Join us on club nights Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm. All standards welcome!! Read more>>